It had been almost 3 months since the EPG Baskets Koblenz had played their last Pro A game in the CGM arena and now the club was back in their own living room testing for the upcoming season against the Giessen 46ers. A lot of the known faces from last season like Calvin Wishart, DJ Jeffries or Devante McCall had left. As usual there were many new faces on the team especially from the States as head coach Stephan Dohrn was grinding to get that positive chemistry going and ready by opening day on September 27th. The big problem that the club had at the moment were injuries. Guys were sidelined like Badu Buck, and Camaron Tongue while Dragons Dicalescu was away with the Romanian national team. Giessen had built an interesting team bringing back a healthy core of guys with German legend Robin Benzing and Daniel Norl and bringing in talented new guys with experienced Chris Carter and Zac Cooks who had BBL and Pro A experience as well as newcomers to Germany like Nigel Scantlebury and Alexander Williams. Williams didn´t play though. On a cool late summer day, the EPG Baskets Koblenz played in front of a quiet arena as it wasn´t open for the fans, but on this day they didn´t need them as they got by 87-81. After a slow start the EPG Baskets Koblenz found a good groove and controlled the game well, but in the second half allowed Giessen to play their game who sparkled with their physicality which Koblenz couldn´t get used to, but in the end they closed out the win showing calmness and heart 88-81. “We had a lot of structure in the first half. We ran our plays and our guards went down hill and found the open guys. In the second half, we didn´t play our game and were rushed too much. We had foul problems and were a bit fatigued which had an effect on our mentality”, stressed EPG Baskets Koblenz American Jayden Williams (198-F, college: Dartmouth). Giessen did a good job fighting back in the second half, but in crunch-time couldn´t execute as well and missed some easy shots. “We have only practiced together maybe for 4 days. We played better in the second half, but we are still finding ourselves. But credit to Koblenz, they played well and hit shots”, stressed Giessen 46er Chris Carter. “We played a good game. We held strong against their physicality in the second half. We stayed cool at the end and deserved to win”, stated EPG Baskets Koblenz sport director Thomas Klein.

Chase Forte Johnson at the FT line

The Giessen 46ers wasted no time jumping all over the EPG Baskets Koblenz taking the rapid 12-3 lead. It was the guard duo of Nigel Scantlebury and Zach Cooks who combined for the 12 points. Scantlebury who has been having to prove himself his whole life bouncing from JUCO to Central Connecticut State University (NCAA) and then having to pay his dues in Georgia, Slovakia and Slovenia added 8 points as his quickness and positive shooting range sparkled while Cooks added 4 points is looking to bounce back from his injury plagued last season in Bonn. The aggressive on ball defense by Cooks and Scantlebury annoyed Koblenz as they could find no rhythm and Koblenz was unable to match Giessen´s intensity at both ends. However when Scantleburg went out, the game of Giessen lost intensity and Koblenz struck back going on a lethal 20-6 run to lead 23-18 In the run, Koblenz let it rain three´s as Williams hit back to back while ex Manitoba University (U Sports) guard Mason Kraus also scored. Kraus has an unbelievable high rainbow shot that looks so beauitiful. He had only been with the team 5 days and was still finding himself. Ex Dragon Rhondorf center Ferenc Gille was efficient scoring 3 baskets. Koblenz was playing great team ball and defensively stuck together and hedged hard on the Giessen guards causing turnovers. Cooks finally came back in and steered home 6 points, but the EPG Baskets Koblenz had the slim 29-26 lead after 10 minutes. “Everyone contributed and there was a good balance. We beat their guard pressure well as Scantleburg went out”, stressed Thomas Klein.

Jonas Niedermanner to the hole

In the second quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz heightened their game and led by as much as 14 points and at the break had the commanding 52-41 advantage. Both teams kept their offensive rhythm going which they carried over from the last minutes of the first quarter. Giessen got baskets from their Germans, Konig Figge, ex Ulm forward Robin Benzing and ex Chemnitz guard Chris Carter connected on a trey while Koblenz got a big trey from ex Trier forward Jonas Niedermanner and free throws to keep the slim 34-31 lead. But the EPG Baskets Koblenz then revved up their game a notch going on a brutal 15-4 run to take their biggest lead of the game at 49-35. In the run, Koblenz demonstrated how powerfull their offense can be when they spice it up with inside out play. Williams again showed his ability to score in bunches as he scored back to back three´s again. “Williams is our new Tim Smith Jr. When he is open, he will make them”, stressed Thomas Klein. Ex Boston College (NCAA) guard Chaz “the machine” Forte Johnson scored twice on the drive and he displayed this special physicality on the drive not seen in Koblenz in the last years. Kraus added 3 free throws and made a pretty no look pass to German ex Bonn center Alex Moeller for the easy lay up. Koblenz continued to defend aggressively and physically and communicated very well together not allowing Giessen to find a rhythm. It also didn´t help Giessen´s fortune that Serbian big man Viktor Kovacevic missed 3 of 4 free throws down the stretch. Cooks hit a clutch trey late, but Giessen couldn´t make any ground as Niedermanner made a long trey from the Rhein/Mosel corner as the EPG Baskets Koblenz led 52-41 at half-time. “Koblenz controlled the game well. Everyone contributed and we kept the intensity high on the defensive end. We closed out well and moved well over the blocks. We played good team basketball”, added Thomas Klein.

Zach Cooks at the FT line

In the third quarter the Giessen 46ers struck back and played better, but even if the EPG Baskets didn´t play their best brand of basketball, they still found ways to execute and led 71-64 after 30 minutes. Giessen heightened their defensive intensity and got the ball down low more and began getting to the free throw line and chipping away at the Koblenz lead. Giessen got baskets from their guards ex Bremerhaven guard Daniel Norl and Cooks while Koblenz got real clutch points form Alex Moeller who scored back to back with a 25 footer and hook shot. Moeller won´t get many shots this season in this offense as he is there for cleaning up in the paint, but he didn´t disappoint with his efficiency as Giessen trailed 56-46. Giessen continued to be in come back mode and stayed in striking distance as their bigs Kovacevic and young German Kai Musse got touches in the paint and executed while also getting rebounds at both ends. Koblenz got good support from ex Georgia Southern University (NCAA) guard Tyron Moore who added 5 points while Williams also made a lay in as the EPG Baskets Koblenz led 64-56. Giessen continued to fight, but couldn´t get closer, because they didn´t get defensive stops. Johnson added a lay in and Niedermanner another trey for the 71-60 lead. Giessen closed out the third quarter strong continuing to bang the ball inside which led to Kovacevic free throws and a lay in by ex Rostock center Til Gloger. “This was really an ugly quarter. No teams had real control. We defended ok, but we had too many turnovers”, stressed Thomas Klein. “We were more physical, but it took us too long to play our game. They dictated their offense too easily”, added Chris Carter. “They took us out of our game. They were more physical and we backed off”, stressed Jayden Williams.

Robin Benzing from down town

In the fourth quarter the Giessen 46ers continued to threaten the EPG Baskets Koblenz, but could never get fully over the hump cutting the lead down to only 1 point. Figge and Gloger added 5 points, but Koblenz always had an answer as Johnson was in attack mode making one free throw and a sweet runner for the 74-69 Koblenz lead. Robin Benzing had been more alive with his discussions with the refs in the first 30 minutes then with his game, but he still had something in his gas tank as he got going making a runner and then two three´s in a row. Even if one doesn´t like the player Benzing, it is still pure enjoyment watching him set for a trey and then his release and splash. The guy has been doing it for 18 years and it will be sad one day when he is retired. His offensive production brought Giessen very close to 78-77. Giessen was defending with heart and forcing Koblenz to tough shots. At this point, Koblenz had shifted down a few gears as Giessen obviously wanted it more. In this situation in the last 2 seasons, Koblenz would of fell apart and lost, but not today. Despite the extreme Giessen pressure, Koblenz stayed calm and simply executed. Chase Forte Johnson was key getting to the free throw line twice and Williams made a clutch lay in for the 83-78 advantage. Kovacevic remained a work horse getting to the free throw line twice and supplying 3 points to trail 83-80. Koblenz remained aggressive and smart getting to the free throw line as Tyron Moore scored twice for the 85-80 lead. Koblenz then stopped 2 Giessen possessions and shots by Carter and Benzing while Sonnefeld and Kraus closed out the game with free throws. “We had uplifting spirts in crunch-time. We stayed calm. In the huddles we kept reminding ourselves to slow down and get our sets going. Chase held us together at the end. We just gave him the ball. We knew he would execute”, stressed Jayden Williams. “We missed easy shots, but it was really the little things. Turnovers and offensive rebounds killed us”, stated Chris Carter. The EPG Baskets Koblenz were led by Jayden Williams with 17 points. Chase Forte Johnson added 15 points and Tyron Moore and Mason Kraus added 11 points a piece while the Giessen 46ers were led by Zach Cooks with 16 points while Viktor Kovacevic had 15 points.